# NTSB CHI78FA030: Piper PA-32R, N38642, Pontiac, MI, March 20, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 20, 1978
- Place: Pontiac, MI · PONTIAC, MI
- Location: 42.6492° N, 83.2874° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pontiac, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6492&lon=-83.2874&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 25, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142455
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI78FA030
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FA030

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1058  78/3/20    PONTIAC,MI          PIPER PA-32R        CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 22, 1474
        TIME - 2100                    N38642              PX-  0  0  1  AIR TAXI-CARGO            TOTAL HOURS, 690 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          ROCHESTER,NY                ROCHESTER,NY                 LANSING,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           LIGHTNING STRIKE                                         IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - LIGHTNING STRIKE
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: POOR/INADEQUATE DESIGN
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: WINGTIPS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - PARTIAL BRIEFING BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE/RADIO, LIMITED BY PILOT ACTION
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER CONSIDERABLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  SUSPECTED OR KNOWN AIRCRAFT DAMAGE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  5000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- WING TIP STRUCTURE MISSING FROM EACH WING,FIBERGLASS CONSTRUCTION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N38642 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19780320022939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780320022939A), Mar 20, 1978: Piper PA32R300, Pontiac, MI, Substantial damage. Wing tip structure missing from each wing,fiberglass construction

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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